In May, 1861, at the age of sixteen years and one month, I ran away from the home of my guardian, in Greenville, S. C, and joined Captain Austins infantry company of Wade Hamptons Legion. On the 28th of June we marched to Columbia and entrained for Virginia. At Charlotte we transferred to flat freight cars, and at Raleigh and Petersburg we were feasted by our noble women. Our permanent camp at Richmond was in the suburbs on the line of the York River Railroad and not far from the foot of Main Street, then known as The Rockets. And here battalion drill was begun. About the 10th of July President Davis came out and presented our beautiful silk banner, which was made mostly from silk dresses of Surgeon Darbys wife, the daughter of General Preston. The infantry were drawn up in a hollow square, with cavalry and artillery on the flanks. After the usual artillery salute and music, the President, flanked by Hampton and other officers, advanced into the hollow square and made a fine speech. He had a ringing tenor voice and spoke without apparent effort. I recall him as rather tall, straight, and slender. He was clean-shaven, except a little beard far back under the chin. His hair was red, plentiful, and in front slightly reached down on his forehead on one side. After the ceremonies Colonel Hampton banqueted the President and party at the formers quarters. In the battle of First Manassas the infantry arm of Hamptons Legion, between five hundred and six hundred strong on the battle field, lost about thirty-five killed and about one hundred and twenty wounded, which, in proportion to the numbers engaged. I think was a heavier loss than any other command sustained. I know that we of the survivors were very proud of the fact that the Legion was so conspicuous and did such good work in that first great conflict of the War between the States. And I have often wondered whether on either side any other command in the nature of a regiment turned out as many general officers during the war as did Hamptons Legion. I know of six-namely : Hampton, colonel, lieutenant general; S. D. Lee, captain of artillery, lieutenant general; Butler, captain of cavalry, major general; Conner, captain of infantry, brigadier general; Gary, captain of infantry, brigadier general; Logan, lieutenant of infantry, brigadier general. CONFEDERATE VETERAN Volume #23 No 1 1915
Posted on: Wed, 23 Jul 2014 18:31:10 +0000
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